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Storyboard - Basketball

Tad

Rose

Sat, 09/01/2001 - 12:00am

Anyone can be a basketball star in this tale that uses editing techniques to make magic on the screen.

One of the interesting traits of the human brain is its natural inclination to create an association between two images juxtaposed together. With video, we can use this tendency to our advantage. For example, a picture of a child crying followed by a picture of a dog licking up an ice cone from the ground suggests that the child dropped the cone and the dog ate it. Of course, the dog may have been taped in Los Angeles and the child in Cleveland. And the dropping of the ice cream? Well, that took place only in the viewer's head. With a little practice you can use this trick to add "cost free" action to your own video productions.
Here is an exercise in the power of suggestion. You can easily demonstrate the basic concept with a short video that can be shot and edited in an afternoon. It will teach you to use your audience's imagination to create a sense of action with only a few suggestive shots. Almost all the "action" takes place between the images.

The PlotTwo guys face off in a game of one-on-one basketball. One, tall and athletic, looks like he could be a pro. The other, short and awkward, doesn't look like much of a match for the tall fellow. However, to the big guy's amazement, the little guy's game is incredible. Nothing can stop his brilliant drives, soaring slam-dunks and towering jump shots. The big guy can only shake his head in wonder.
What made this kid so good? Well, that's up to you. Use one of our optional endings, or write your own. Be creative. Use our storyboards as a blueprint or simply as a guide. When you're done, send us a copy of your tape. We'd love to see your work.

The Script:

SHOT 1CU - A basketball bouncing in and out of frame. ANGLE WIDENS to reveal Billy Dimwell, a none-too-athletic looking chap dribbling the ball. He's looking at something off screen. ANGLE CONTINUES TO WIDEN to reveal the torso of a tall athletic guy facing him.

SHOT 2LOW ANGLE - THE BIG GUY - BILLY'S POV -
His torso fills the frame. CAMERA TILTS UP to reveal him looking down with the bemused confidence of a pro. He gestures as if to say Come on
AUDIO: Big Guy: Got game?

SHOT 8TWO SHOT - THE BIG GUY retrieves the ball and passes it back to Billy. He is not amused. Billy dribbles right, spins and throws up a shot.

SHOT 9CU - THE HOOP - Swish from the right.

SHOT 10CU - THE HOOP - Swish from the left.

SHOT 11CU - THE HOOP
AUDIO: The sound of the basketball bouncing, tennis shoes scuffling, sharp breathing, then - ANGLE WIDENS as Billy suddenly sails into frame for a soaring slam dunk. (production note: since all we see is Billy's upper body, he can be standing on almost anything - including the other guy's shoulders).

SHOT 12MS - THE BIG GUY as the ball bounces off his head. He shakes it off, but his expression hardens. Now it's personal.

SHOT 13CU - THEIR SHOES - ZOOM IN on their feet as Billy dribbles left, right, left. The Big Guy is on him like glue. Billy stops and his feet leap vertically out of the frame.

SHOT 14MCU - THE BASKETBALL - It just clears the outstretched fingers of the big guy.
AUDIO: A sportscaster-type voice off screen - SPORTSCASTER: (VO) He shoots. He scores!

SHOT 15What happens next?
Think up your own ending to the game, or try one of the commercial-style suggestions below.

STORYBOARD KEY

XCU: EXTREME CLOSEUP

CU: CLOSEUP

MCU: MEDIUM CLOSEUP

MS: MEDIUM SHOT

WS: WIDE SHOT

XWS: EXTREME WIDE SHOT

Optional Ending #1CU - A TRASH BASKET - filled with crumpled wads of paper. Another piece lands in the basket. ANGLE WIDENS to reveal Billy standing by a copy machine.
AUDIO: BILLY: (finishing the sportscaster's line) He scores!
The voice of Billy's boss replaces the ovation of the crowd.
THE BOSS: (OS) Dimwell, you idiot! It's ten o'clock! Where is that company report? The machine spits out another copy. Billy takes it, crumples it, shoots it into the trashcan, and then walks out.
TAG LINE: Play to Win. The State Lottery.

Optional Ending #2TWOSHOT - BASKETBALL COURT - The ball drops through the hoop. The big guy retrieves it and passes it back to Billy. His face now reveals a grudging new respect.
AUDIO: BIG GUY: Sportade Power Drink, huh?
BILLY: (nods) ...and a little practice.
Billy drives past him again...
Final image here could be a product shot of a Sportade Power Drink bottle (or whatever product) in the foreground with the game in soft focus continuing in the background.

Optional Ending #3LIVING ROOM - BILLY'S HOUSE - The coffee table is littered with soda cans and junk food. Billy sits alone on his couch working a joystick wildly. He's providing his own narration.
AUDIO: BILLY: He scores! What an incredible performance! Dimwell the Dominator wins again! This guy is truly in a league all his own His voice fades. Image goes out of focus. The title appears.
TAG LINE: Hi-Jump Sneakers.... Get Real.